2005 Ford F-150 Prerunner - Locked And Loaded

Over the past few years, CST Performance Suspension has been known for not only producing proven suspension systems but also for turning out some amazing prerunners and show-stopping vehicles. The company's new '05 Ford F-150 5.4L V-8 is definitely not the first CST project vehicle we have featured in the pages of Off-Road magazine. The focus for this Blue Oval was not only to create another head-turner, but also to equip it with enough modifications to help chase CST's Trophy Truck throughout the racecourses in Baja while still maintaining a quality ride for daily driving.

Following the custom-painted stripes of the truck, we noticed the Glassworks Unlimited fiberglass front fenders giving room for the 35x12.5R17 Toyo Open Country tires wrapped around a complete set of Moto Metal 954-style 17x8-inch chrome wheels. The front bumper needed to be modified in order to match the lines of the new fenders.

Most people would simply replace the entire front bumper when applying fiberglass, but CST wanted its truck to not only perform great in the dirt but also look good doing it. CST did a little fender work of its own in the rear of the truck, flaring the bedsides to accommodate the larger off-road tires. From this viewpoint you can also see the custom billet door handles by Grippin' Billet as well as the carbon-fiber-wrapped factory bedrails by Auto Extras.

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Looking over the undercarriage of the F-150 gives you an overview of the entire front suspension. The CST 7-inch system includes a two-piece subframe with a bolt-on skidplate that integrates the two subframe legs together, fabricated knuckle uprights, front stainless steel braided brake lines, coilover drop spacer (retaining use of factory shock) and sway bar drop mounts. The spindle is constructed of 3/16-inch and 1/4-inch plate as well as a fully machined baseplate. The upright neck is made of round, 0.250-wall DOM tubing with a machined insert taper welded into the top end of the tubing. With all parts in hand, the spindle is completely MIG-welded, and then the hub mounting surface is machined completely flat to ensure a tight fit. Note: This truck has been equipped with a CST Fox racing shock replacement front coilover system.

In order to fit the stereo and electronic components, CST had to custom-make a center dash piece. Where did the stock air conditioning and vent controls go? Hidden inside the glove compartment of course! For tunes, CST chose a Pioneer AVIC-D1 DVD Multimedia AV Navigation system that can play just about any disk format. With this unit you can watch your favorite off-road movie or listen to satellite radio. This system also provides navigation in the form of both on- and off-road driving directions and course mapping. Located under the AVIC-D1 is Pioneer's AVG-VDP1 Real-Time Vehicle Dynamics Processor and AVD-W6210 Real-Time Vehicle Dynamics Processor Monitor. This unit has some of the best display and information modes we have seen from a unit of its kind. It allows you to review your speed, rpm, lateral g-force, acceleration, torque, horsepower, slope angle, angular velocity, battery voltage, longitude and latitude, GPS function, and more. When you visit your local audio store to see this unit in person, be sure to try the demo of the Virtual Screen that shows a truck image in the dirt as you are driving. Brad Myers of CST told us that although this unit takes some time to install, it has been a welcome addition to CST's project vehicle. The rest of the truck's Pioneer audio system includes TS-D681R 4x6-inch speakers, a high-power amplifier, and a 10-inch subwoofer.